Border collies enlisted to herd Elon geese

Published: Monday, September 1, 2014 at 08:41 PM.

ELON — The Canada geese that call Elon University’s Lake Mary Nell home appear to have it made.

Plenty of water on which to relax, a never-ending supply of well-fertilized grass, and scrumptious bread treats provided by well-meaning students and townsfolk.

What’s a big bird not to like?

Sorry, guys. The party’s over.

Elon University administrators are taking steps to rid the campus of the annoying geese. As anyone who’s had to sidestep evidence of their presence in a stroll about campus can attest, it’s easy to understand why.

Sure, the geese are beautiful to watch as they fly over in V formations, honking like irate motorists stuck in traffic. But on ground and water, they’re messy and unsanitary, leaving droppings as they go.

“We’re going to be chasing them pretty hard for the next few weeks,” said Tom Flood, Elon University’s director of landscaping and grounds. “We’re encouraging them to go to greener pastures.”

Truth be known, the chasing — well, herding, really — is being done by border collies belonging to Goose Masters, a Randolph County firm that specializes in control of populations of Canada geese. Elon University administrators have contracted the business, owned by Gwen Kuykendall and her husband, Kent, to work their magic around Lake Mary Nell.

THE PROCESSOF ridding an area of geese is ongoing, one that requires the dogs be returned time and again.

“The geese are determined, but we’re determined, too,” Gwen Kuykendall said. “It’s about being more determined than the geese.”

Goose Masters has been in business about 20 years. In addition to training dogs to work populations of Canada geese, the Kuykendalls raise and sell border collies. Some of their business accounts include the N.C. Zoological Park in Asheboro, Guilford Technical Community College, and Burlington’s Twin Lakes Community.

Lots of business owners and administrators have had their fill of geese, a bird that took such a liking to the ponds and lakes of the South it long ago quit flapping back to its native Canada. Each goose consumes an estimated 3 to 4 pounds of grass per day and produces more than a pound of waste.

Fortunately, border collies are happy to help with the problem. They have a natural instinct to herd. It’s what they were born to do.

In addition to geese, border collies have been known to attempt to herd other dogs, pedestrians, bicyclists, cars … you name it.

“Anything that moves,” Kuykendall said.

RIDDING ANAREA of a problem geese population isn’t an overnight fix and requires ongoing visits by the dogs. Kuykendall compares it to hiring someone for lawn maintenance: Just because the grass is mowed this week doesn’t mean it won’t grow back.

While herding comes naturally for border collies, it’s perfected through training. The dogs are eager to please and respond to a handful of verbal commands handed down from one generation of instructors to the next.

“Come by” means to move clockwise. “Way to me” is the order to go counterclockwise. “Lie down” is self-explanatory.

The geese perceive the dogs as predators and take flight to escape. If they head for water, the dogs are delighted, enjoying nothing more than an invigorating swim.

The dogs never attack the geese. No birds are hurt, Kuykendall said.

“The dogs mesmerize the birds into flight. It’s very safe, very humane,” she said.

Where the geese go after leaving the university is their business. But as long as the food source and plush digs of their former accommodation remain, sooner or later they’ll venture back to see whether those pesky border collies have disappeared.

ELON — The Canada geese that call Elon University’s Lake Mary Nell home appear to have it made.

Plenty of water on which to relax, a never-ending supply of well-fertilized grass, and scrumptious bread treats provided by well-meaning students and townsfolk.

What’s a big bird not to like?

Sorry, guys. The party’s over.

Elon University administrators are taking steps to rid the campus of the annoying geese. As anyone who’s had to sidestep evidence of their presence in a stroll about campus can attest, it’s easy to understand why.

Sure, the geese are beautiful to watch as they fly over in V formations, honking like irate motorists stuck in traffic. But on ground and water, they’re messy and unsanitary, leaving droppings as they go.

“We’re going to be chasing them pretty hard for the next few weeks,” said Tom Flood, Elon University’s director of landscaping and grounds. “We’re encouraging them to go to greener pastures.”

Truth be known, the chasing — well, herding, really — is being done by border collies belonging to Goose Masters, a Randolph County firm that specializes in control of populations of Canada geese. Elon University administrators have contracted the business, owned by Gwen Kuykendall and her husband, Kent, to work their magic around Lake Mary Nell.

THE PROCESSOF ridding an area of geese is ongoing, one that requires the dogs be returned time and again.

“The geese are determined, but we’re determined, too,” Gwen Kuykendall said. “It’s about being more determined than the geese.”

Goose Masters has been in business about 20 years. In addition to training dogs to work populations of Canada geese, the Kuykendalls raise and sell border collies. Some of their business accounts include the N.C. Zoological Park in Asheboro, Guilford Technical Community College, and Burlington’s Twin Lakes Community.

Lots of business owners and administrators have had their fill of geese, a bird that took such a liking to the ponds and lakes of the South it long ago quit flapping back to its native Canada. Each goose consumes an estimated 3 to 4 pounds of grass per day and produces more than a pound of waste.

Fortunately, border collies are happy to help with the problem. They have a natural instinct to herd. It’s what they were born to do.

In addition to geese, border collies have been known to attempt to herd other dogs, pedestrians, bicyclists, cars … you name it.

“Anything that moves,” Kuykendall said.

RIDDING ANAREA of a problem geese population isn’t an overnight fix and requires ongoing visits by the dogs. Kuykendall compares it to hiring someone for lawn maintenance: Just because the grass is mowed this week doesn’t mean it won’t grow back.

While herding comes naturally for border collies, it’s perfected through training. The dogs are eager to please and respond to a handful of verbal commands handed down from one generation of instructors to the next.

“Come by” means to move clockwise. “Way to me” is the order to go counterclockwise. “Lie down” is self-explanatory.

The geese perceive the dogs as predators and take flight to escape. If they head for water, the dogs are delighted, enjoying nothing more than an invigorating swim.

The dogs never attack the geese. No birds are hurt, Kuykendall said.

“The dogs mesmerize the birds into flight. It’s very safe, very humane,” she said.

Where the geese go after leaving the university is their business. But as long as the food source and plush digs of their former accommodation remain, sooner or later they’ll venture back to see whether those pesky border collies have disappeared.